Breaking bread at the Welcome Table

Saluda volunteers offer weekly meal, fellowship for community

Howard Troxler, left, and the Rev. Rob Parsons are volunteers at the Saluda Welcome Table, a community meal offered on Tuesdays at Saluda United Methodist Church.

Mike Dirks / Times-News

By Gina MaloneTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 5:48 p.m.

SALUDA — For more than a year now, people in Saluda have been gathering around tables on Tuesday evenings to share a meal.

Facts

Want to participate?

What: Saluda Welcome Table, a free meal that welcomes allWhere: Saluda United Methodist Church fellowship hall, 153 Greenville St.When: 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Meals will not be served in December, but they will resume in January.Info: 828-749-9764

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When Saluda's Welcome Table began, “We thought we were offering meals for people in need,” said organizer Peggy Riddle. She and husband David, along with the Rev. Rob Parsons of Saluda United Methodist Church, helped to get the program off the ground last November with the help of about 12 volunteers and anonymous grant money to purchase needed supplies.

The impetus, said Parsons, was Stone Soup, an afternoon worship service at his church that welcomes all, church-affiliated or not.

After visiting the Haywood Street Church in Asheville, he said he realized how important its Downtown Welcome Table's weekly community meals were to people. Cheryl Wallen, director of LifeMinistries Outreach of Givens Estates in Asheville, was also instrumental, Riddle said, in helping to get Saluda's Welcome Table started.

Parsons said preparing a meal and inviting the needy means that often people do not show up, not wanting to classify themselves as needy, or feeling that others are needier than they are.

“This is for everybody,” Parsons said. “That's the only way it will work.”

As it turned out, people were in need of fellowship as well as food. “It's turned into a community meal,” Riddle said.

The initial fund for getting started is largely untouched. In fact, she said, it has reached the point where donations and sponsorships have made it possible for organizers to donate to other food-centered charities such as Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries and the recent Foothills CROP Hunger Walk.

“I'm tempted to take the donation box away,” Parsons said. Some people give too much money, he said, and others worry about not being able to donate at all. He reassures those in the latter group that the community meals are not about the money taken in.

“I want people to be able to receive a gift,” he said. Then, he added, they understand giving a gift and the grace that accompanies both giving and receiving.

Today about 40 volunteers take turns preparing meals for about 70 people each week. There have been as many as 99 sitting down to dinner, Riddle said. Some are elderly people who live alone and enjoy the chance to get out among their fellow townspeople and take a break from cooking for themselves. All ages show up, from small children to great-grandparents. They are, Parsons said, “people from all walks of life.”

The goal is not to provide the cheapest food to the largest number of people.

“We aim to provide meals we would provide for friends,” Riddle said.

She and Terry Baisden take turns organizing volunteers and meals that are, generally, planned a month in advance.

“The food variety is fun,” she said, with Italian or Asian foods sometimes served as well as standard home cooking.

Rather than the usual cafeteria-style food that sometimes feeds the masses, food placed on the Welcome Table is made from scratch with an emphasis on good nutrition. Much of the time, Riddle said, a vegetarian option is available. Side dishes might include raw vegetables and hummus, salads or marinated vegetables. Baskets of fresh-baked bread sit on the tables.

The challenge is cooking for an indeterminate number of people without ending the evening with leftovers or with unfed people. Attendees are not required to reserve a place at the table, and, in fact, are encouraged to bring someone with them. Volunteers take turns helping out each week in the kitchen, gathering around 2 p.m. at the church to start cooking so that food is ready when the first hungry guests arrive at 5:30.

Volunteers help with the planning of meals, cooking, setting up and decorating tables and cleaning up afterwards. Some also volunteer to greet and mingle so that the atmosphere feels warm and friendly. Guests are invited to sign in and wear name tags. Long, cloth-covered tables seating eight encourage socializing among diners. Dinner is served until 7 p.m.

Although the program is a community effort, Parsons offers the use of the church's fellowship hall as a weekly gathering spot.

“We're not trying to do anything but eat together,” he said. “If we eat together, we'll build a strong community.”

Parsons has been known to don a chef's apron himself. When he signs up to cook, he said, he invites someone to come along with him. “It's a great way to get folks involved.”

Organizers also encourage sponsorships of meals. Autumn Care of Saluda is one of the organizations that has funded a meal.

“People are just so appreciative,” Parsons said of those who come out for the meals. And, he said, there have been people who have asked about getting carry-out meals because they know of a family in need.

Meals will not be served in December, giving volunteers time to rest and enjoy the holiday season. The cooks will be back in January, though, ready to fire up the ovens and load up the plates.

“Cook as if you're having friends over,” Parsons advises those who volunteer to take a turn in the kitchen. “Because you are.”

<p>SALUDA — For more than a year now, people in Saluda have been gathering around tables on Tuesday evenings to share a meal.</p><p>When Saluda's Welcome Table began, “We thought we were offering meals for people in need,” said organizer Peggy Riddle. She and husband David, along with the Rev. Rob Parsons of Saluda United Methodist Church, helped to get the program off the ground last November with the help of about 12 volunteers and anonymous grant money to purchase needed supplies.</p><p>The impetus, said Parsons, was Stone Soup, an afternoon worship service at his church that welcomes all, church-affiliated or not.</p><p>After visiting the Haywood Street Church in Asheville, he said he realized how important its Downtown Welcome Table's weekly community meals were to people. Cheryl Wallen, director of LifeMinistries Outreach of Givens Estates in Asheville, was also instrumental, Riddle said, in helping to get Saluda's Welcome Table started.</p><p>Parsons said preparing a meal and inviting the needy means that often people do not show up, not wanting to classify themselves as needy, or feeling that others are needier than they are.</p><p>“This is for everybody,” Parsons said. “That's the only way it will work.”</p><p>As it turned out, people were in need of fellowship as well as food. “It's turned into a community meal,” Riddle said.</p><p>The initial fund for getting started is largely untouched. In fact, she said, it has reached the point where donations and sponsorships have made it possible for organizers to donate to other food-centered charities such as Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries and the recent Foothills CROP Hunger Walk.</p><p>“I'm tempted to take the donation box away,” Parsons said. Some people give too much money, he said, and others worry about not being able to donate at all. He reassures those in the latter group that the community meals are not about the money taken in.</p><p>“I want people to be able to receive a gift,” he said. Then, he added, they understand giving a gift and the grace that accompanies both giving and receiving.</p><p>Today about 40 volunteers take turns preparing meals for about 70 people each week. There have been as many as 99 sitting down to dinner, Riddle said. Some are elderly people who live alone and enjoy the chance to get out among their fellow townspeople and take a break from cooking for themselves. All ages show up, from small children to great-grandparents. They are, Parsons said, “people from all walks of life.”</p><p>The goal is not to provide the cheapest food to the largest number of people.</p><p>“We aim to provide meals we would provide for friends,” Riddle said.</p><p>She and Terry Baisden take turns organizing volunteers and meals that are, generally, planned a month in advance.</p><p>“The food variety is fun,” she said, with Italian or Asian foods sometimes served as well as standard home cooking.</p><p>Rather than the usual cafeteria-style food that sometimes feeds the masses, food placed on the Welcome Table is made from scratch with an emphasis on good nutrition. Much of the time, Riddle said, a vegetarian option is available. Side dishes might include raw vegetables and hummus, salads or marinated vegetables. Baskets of fresh-baked bread sit on the tables.</p><p>The challenge is cooking for an indeterminate number of people without ending the evening with leftovers or with unfed people. Attendees are not required to reserve a place at the table, and, in fact, are encouraged to bring someone with them. Volunteers take turns helping out each week in the kitchen, gathering around 2 p.m. at the church to start cooking so that food is ready when the first hungry guests arrive at 5:30.</p><p>Volunteers help with the planning of meals, cooking, setting up and decorating tables and cleaning up afterwards. Some also volunteer to greet and mingle so that the atmosphere feels warm and friendly. Guests are invited to sign in and wear name tags. Long, cloth-covered tables seating eight encourage socializing among diners. Dinner is served until 7 p.m.</p><p>Although the program is a community effort, Parsons offers the use of the church's fellowship hall as a weekly gathering spot.</p><p>“We're not trying to do anything but eat together,” he said. “If we eat together, we'll build a strong community.”</p><p>Parsons has been known to don a chef's apron himself. When he signs up to cook, he said, he invites someone to come along with him. “It's a great way to get folks involved.”</p><p>Organizers also encourage sponsorships of meals. Autumn Care of Saluda is one of the organizations that has funded a meal.</p><p>“People are just so appreciative,” Parsons said of those who come out for the meals. And, he said, there have been people who have asked about getting carry-out meals because they know of a family in need.</p><p>Meals will not be served in December, giving volunteers time to rest and enjoy the holiday season. The cooks will be back in January, though, ready to fire up the ovens and load up the plates.</p><p>“Cook as if you're having friends over,” Parsons advises those who volunteer to take a turn in the kitchen. “Because you are.”</p>